Old Diorama Arts Centre

The story of Old Diorama Arts Centre (ODAC) begins in the 1970s when a collective of artists took it upon themselves to occupy an empty building near Regent’s Park. Driven by a radical desire to make and share art, they hosted arts, crafts, theatre, concerts, raves, and more, engaging the local community through classes and projects while fostering talent right in the heart of London.

Far from a fleeting flurry of artistic activity, in the years since the organisation has formalised as a charity and moved to a permanent location with purpose-built studios on 201 Drummond Street, on the edge of Regent's Place.

ODAC’s contemporary programme continues its founding ethos into the 21st century, serving as a springboard for artistic creation and community action. Whether that’s Camden Collabs, free or subsidised space for local creative community groups; Regent’s Roots Festival, a free summer participatory outdoor arts festival; One Roof, a programme by and for people experiencing homelessness; and numerous other initiatives responding to the needs of artists, residents and young people in the city. 2025 will see the delivery of its most ambitious commission yet: The Story Trail, a series of site-specific works for a new resident-led public art trail through Regent’s Park Estate.

With artists at its core and social action at its heart, ODAC is central London’s leading provider of accessible, interdisciplinary live arts and creation workspaces. A trusted collaborator with local residents and standing out among its peers in London by taking ambitious projects onto the streets and into the heart of the community, ODAC is ‘inspired by the neighbourhood and cityscape of Euston, both as a collaborator and a stage’.

WHAT WE DO FOR Old Diorama Arts Centre

If Zetteler had been around in the 1970s, we’d like to think we’d have been storming empty buildings alongside those plucky artists. Art is a powerful tool to break down barriers and bring people together, and we’re on board to help ODAC reach new audiences with a communications campaign as bold as its projects.

olddiorama.com